Erica Verrillo has written seven books and published five. She doesn't know why anyone with an ounce of self-preservation would ever want to publish. But, if you insist on selling your soul to the devil, learn how to do it right: marketing, literary agents, book promotion, editing, pitching your book, how to get reviews, and ... most important of all ... everything she did wrong.
In the interests of protecting the right to free speech, she did not vote for Trump.
#NotMyPresident

The Blue Route. Restrictions: Only the work of current undergraduate writers will be considered. Genres: Fiction, or creative nonfiction totaling no more than 3000 words. Payment: $25 Deadline: October 1, 2016

Six Hens. "Six Hens features true stories about the moments that define and redefine. Our writers take us to the places and events that changed what they believe in, changed how they see their place in the world, and changed them." Genre: Creative nonfiction. Payment: $50 Deadline: October 3, 2016

Griffith Review 56: Millennials Strike Back. Genre: Nonfiction: This special edition of Griffith Review is devoted to the challenges and opportunities this generation is facing and embracing. The net will be cast wide, as we listen to the voices of the future reporting on the world as they experience it. Writers, academics, artists, workers, activists – all are welcome. Payment: Negotiated according to word length. Deadline: October 7, 2016, pitches only. Read guidelines here.

The Violet Hour. Genre: Flash only. The theme prompts this time around are “macabre” and “Gothic.” All non-fiction and fiction submissions are limited to a maximum word-count of 1000 words, and all poems are limited to a maximum of 1 page, up to 5 poems per submission. Payment: $5. Deadline: October 14, 2016.

Iron Soap. Genre: Short stories of around 200 words on the theme of Halloween. Payment: 1 cent/word. Deadline: October 14, 2016.

Rattle. Restrictions: Poems may be written on any subject, in any style or length, but must be written by those who have worked a significant amount of time for a non-military governmental department or agency (whether U.S., foreign, or international). Genre: Poetry. Payment: $50. Deadline: October 15, 2016.

Helios. Genre: Fiction, poetry, nonfiction. RE_ACTED wants stories that explore the dark side of human progression. What are the secrets we’ve erased from our families shared histories? What is the government, society, or even the universe itself trying to shield us from seeing? Payment: Varies according to type of submission. Deadline: October 15, 2016.

Nous. Genre: Stories, poems, and essays taking on themes such as Addiction, Gambling, Virtual Reality and Computer Games, Therapy, Community Action and Social Change. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: October 16, 2016.

Shooter. Genre: Poems and stories on theme of Cities. Minimum 2000 words for stories. Payment: £25 per story and £5 per poem. Deadline: October 16, 2016.

Dieselpunk Fairy Tales. Genre: Diselpunk. "We’re looking for over-the-top storylines that fit into this mash-up of genres. Horror, action, detective, crime, and even fantasy can be fit into this genre. Think steam-punk, but with petroleum-fueled engines. All submissions will have to be based on a retelling of a fairy tale." US writers only. Payment: Revenue sharing. Deadline: October 21, 2016.

Splickety. Genre: Speculative fiction. ‘What if White Fang was actually a chupacabra? What if a pod of warmongering mermaids sank the Titanic? What if Oliver Twist turned out to be a twisted leprechaun? In these literary retellings, we want to know who really populated the stories that history wouldn’t allow told. The plot and motivations will stay largely the same, but the characters will be a little different than we remember. Think Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter, and Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters when you’re writing the true versions of these classic spec-fic masterpieces.’ Payment: $0.02 per word via PayPal.Deadline: October 28, 2016. Read guidelines here.

Tacitus Publishing. Genre: "We are looking for short fiction (1,500 to 5,000 words) that takes place in space and has a strong horror element. This can include aliens, ghosts, or disturbing circumstance." Payment: 1 cent USD per word. Deadline: October 30, 2016.

Copper Pen Press - Freakshow. Genre: Dark, twisted and unusual mysteries with dark, twisted and unusual characters set within the world of a traveling circus, carnival or freak show. Payment: $50 per story. Deadline: October 31, 2016.

Maple Tree Literary Supplement. Genre: The Maple Tree Literary Supplement provides a platform for dialogue or interviews on any topic between and amongst Canadian writers, while featuring their work and reporting on literary events, landmarks or festivals in Canada and around the world–with an emphasis on their Canadian composition. Payment: $30 CAN. Deadline: October 31, 2016.

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

There are nearly two dozen writing contests in October. All are free (no entry fees). Some of the prizes are in the tens of thousands of dollars. Others are more modest. (But a prize is a prize. You still get to say you are a prize-winning author if you win.)

Many of these contests are offered annually. If you want to plan ahead, see Free Contests for a month-by-month list of all contests offered throughout the year.

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The Marfield Prize, also known as the National Award for Arts Writing, is given annually by the Arts Club of Washington to nonfiction books about the arts written for a broad audience. Genre: Non-fiction book. Self-published books not accepted. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: October 1, 2016. Read details here.

Red Dragonfly New Writing Competition. Restrictions: Open to UK residents from British East Asian, South Asian and South East Asian communities. Genre: 30-minute play. Prize: £1000. Deadline: October 1, 2016. Read details here.

RBC Taylor Prize for Literary Nonfiction. Restrictions: Open to published Canadian authors. Genre: Nonfiction book. Prize: CAN$25,000.00. Deadline: October 2, 2016 for books published between August 1 and September 30, 2016.

The Glenna Luschei Prize for African Poetry, sponsored by the African Poetry Book Fund and in partnership with the literary journal, Prairie Schooner, is the only one of its kind in the world and was established to promote African poetry written in English or in translation and to recognize a significant book published each year by an African poet. A standard edition is 48 pages or more in length. Genre: Open to any book of original poetry, in English, published during 2015 in a standard edition by a full-length collection of poetry. Restrictions: African nationals, African residents, or poet of African parentage with roots from any country, living anywhere in the world. Prize: USD $5,000. Deadline: October 1, 2016. Read details here.Royal Institute of Philosophy Essay Prize. Topic: Can there be a credible philosophy of history? Prize: £2,500 top prize. Deadline: October 3, 2016. Read details here.

American Antiquarian Society Fellowships for Creative Writers is calling for applications for visiting fellowships for historical research by creative and performing artists, writers, film makers, journalists, and other persons whose goals are to produce imaginative, non-formulaic works dealing with pre-twentieth-century American history. Successful applicants are those whose work is for the general public rather than for academic or educational audiences. The Society's goal in sponsoring this program is to multiply and improve the ways in which an understanding of history is communicated to the American people. Prize: A stipend of $1,150 to $1,350 and on-campus housing is provided; fellows residing off-campus receive $1,850. Deadline: October 5, 2016. Read details here.

Man Booker International Prize. The Man Booker International Prize for fiction translated into English is awarded annually by the Booker Prize Foundation to the author of the best (in the opinion of the judges) eligible novel or collection of short stories. Prize: £50,000 divided equally between the author and the translator. There will be a prize of £2,000 each of the shortlisted titles divided equally between the author and the translator. Deadline: October 7, 2016. Read details here.

The NC State Short Story Contests. Restrictions: Open to all North Carolina residents except 1) tenured/tenure-track professors in the University of North Carolina system or 2) writers with a published book, 3) previous winners. Genres: An unpublished SHORT STORY of no more than 20 double-spaced pages; limit 5000 words OR an unpublished SHORT-SHORT FICTION story of no more than 5 double-spaced typed pages; limit 1200 words. Prizes: James Hurst Fiction Prize for the winning story is $500. There will also be some Honorable Mention awards. Prize for short-short is $250. Deadline: October 11, 2016. Read details here.

Amy Lowell Poetry Traveling Scholarship. Restrictions: Poet must be born in the United States. Genre: Poetry. The sample must not exceed either (1) 40 typed pages or (2) one printed volume plus no more than 20 typed pages of your most recent work. There is no minimum page requirement. Prize: $54,000 for a year of travel and study abroad. Deadline: October 15, 2016. Read details here.

Arrowhead Regional Arts Council Career Development Grants. Restrictions: Writers who are U.S. citizens and have lived in Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, or St. Louis counties in northeastern Minnesota for at least six months are eligible. Genre: Poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Prize: $3,000 grant. Deadline: October 28, 2016. Read details here.

Penguin Random House - Daily Mail UK New Novelist Competition. Restrictions: Open to anyone aged 16 or over who is a resident of the UK or Republic of Ireland, except for employees (and their families) of the Penguin Random House UK group, Associated Newspapers Ltd and any other company associated with the competition.Genre: Entrants must never have had a novel published before (in any format, including ebook or self-published) and must be 16 or over. Prize: £20,000 top prize (advance fee). Submissions: Daily Mail First Novel Competition, c/o Penguin Random House Group, 20 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London SW1V 2SA. Deadline: October 30, 2016.

The Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest is sponsored by Hollins University. Restrictions: Open to young women who are sophomores or juniors in high school or preparatory school. Genre: Poetry. Prize: Up to $5,000 renewable annual Creative Talent Scholarship in creative writing if winner enrolls at Hollins. Free tuition and housing for the university’s Hollins summer creative writing program. $200 cash prize. Publication in Cargoes, Hollins’ award-winning student literary magazine. Ten copies of Cargoes. Deadline: October 31, 2016. Read details here.

PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction is the most prestigious literary award in the US. Restrictions: Authors must be living American citizens. Self-published works not accepted. Genres: Novels, novellas, and collections of short stories. Prize: $15,000. Deadline: October 31, 2016. Read details here

The Benjamin Franklin House Literary Prize. Restrictions: Entrants must be aged 18-25 years and living in the UK. Genre: Fiction and nonfiction. Each year a question or quote exploring Franklin’s relevance in our time is open for interpretation in 1000-1500 words. Prize: First prize of £750, second prize of £500. Winning entries will be posted on the website and also published online by The Telegraph. Deadline: October 31, 2016. Read details here.

Burt Award for Caribbean Literature. Restrictions: Caribbean authors age 12 through 18. Genres: Published books, previously self-published books, and unpublished manuscripts are eligible for the Award. Prize: First Prize of $10,000 CAD, a Second Prize of $7,000 CAD and a Third Prize of $5,000 CAD. Deadline: October 31, 2016. Read details here.

The Eric Gregory Awards. Restrictions: Applicants must be under 30 and a British subject by birth and must ordinarily be resident in the United Kingdom or Northern Ireland. Genre: Poetry collection. Previously published work accepted. Prize: £4,000.00. Deadline: October 31, 2016.

McKitterick Prize. Restrictions: Open to authors over age 40 on December 31, 2015. Genre: First novel. The work must have been first published in the UK in the year in which the deadline falls (and not first published abroad), or be unpublished. Prize: £4,000.00. Deadline: October 31, 2016.

Tom-Gallon Trust Award. Restrictions: Open to citizens of the United Kingdom, Commonwealth or the Republic of Ireland with at least one short story published or accepted for publication. Genre: Short story, maximum 5,000 words. May be unpublished. Prize: £1,000.00. Deadline: October 31, 2016. Read details here.

Lee & Low Books New Visions Award. Restrictions: Open to writers of color who are residents of the United States and who have not previously had a middle grade or young adult novel published. Genre: Middle grade or young adult novel. Prize: $1,000 and their standard publication contract, including their basic advance and royalties for a first time author. An Honor Award winner will receive a cash prize of $500. Deadline: October 31, 2016. Read details here.

Thursday, September 22, 2016

Soon the weather will turn chilly, the leaves will fall off the trees, and your thoughts will once again turn to indoor pursuits.

Luckily, there are two dozen writing conferences this October to keep you warm and inspired.

Writing conferences are a wonderful experience. Nothing motivates writers more than a meeting of the minds. And if you are ready to publish, attending a conference is the best way to meet agents.

Many of the conferences listed below are annual events, so if you can't make your ideal conference this year, you may be able to attend it next year. If you want to get a jump on conferences, there is a month-by-month list of conferences here: Writing Conferences.

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2016 Flathead River Writers Conference, Oct 1 - 2, Kalispell, MT. One day of presentations by agents and authors - One day of workshop topics by eight presenters - Opportunity for “First Impression” 1 page submissions - One-on-one manuscript critiques with either of two agents for the first 24 2-day paid submitters. (A double-spaced 10 page manuscript sample plus a 2 page synopsis must be submitted in Word format electronically 4 weeks prior to the conference. Details on website.)

Perfecting the Picture Book Text. October 5 - 9, 2016, Honesdale, Pennsylvania. Golden Kite winner Kristy Dempsey (A Dance Like Starlight, Me With You, Surfer Chick, and the forthcoming Superhero Instruction Manual) and National Book Award-winner Kathryn Erskine (Mockingbird, Mama Africa,) will give you the tools you need to write your first ever picture book, or to perfect the picture books you’ve already written. Expect to meet a few surprise guests (and experienced picture book creators) via Skype as well!

American Literary Translators Association (ALTA) Conference. October 6 - 9, 2016, Oakland, California. Panels, workshops, readings, a book fair, and opportunities to meet with editors for translators. The 2016 theme is “Translation and Crossings.” Poet and translator Don Mee Choi will deliver the keynote.

New York Comicon. October 6 - 9, 2016, New York, New York. New York Comic Con is the East Coast's biggest popular culture convention: Show Floor plays host to the latest and greatest in comics, graphic novels, anime, manga, video games, toys, movies and television; Panels and Autograph Sessions give Fans a chance to interact with their favorite Creators; Screening rooms feature sneak peeks at films and television shows months before they hit big and small screens.

Imaginarium. Oct 7 - 9, 2016, Louisville KY. A three day annual event held in Louisville, Kentucky centered entirely around creative writing, including the worlds of books, movies, gaming, music, and comics/graphic novels. Imaginarium Convention features extensive programming content, with panels and workshops presented by over 150 professional guests covering everything from the craft of writing to various genres, industry-specific topics, publishing, and social media/publicity. The convention features a film festival with a full array of awards, a masquerade/costume contest, live music, gaming, an expo open to the general public, an awards banquet, a series of literary awards called the Imadjinns, and many more activities, creating a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere that is content-rich and ideal for networking, promotion and personal development.

The Eighth Annual Rochester Writers’ Conference, October 8, 2016, Rochester, Michigan. Lectures, Workshops and Panel Discussions in fiction, non-fiction and business of writing presentations. Open to new, working and published writers of all genres. Attendees select four presentations from a dozen to tailor fit their needs.

Nimrod Conference for Readers and Writers. October 14-15, 2016, University of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as readings, master classes, panel discussions, and individual manuscript consultations with faculty. Participants include poets Robin Coste Lewis and Chloe Honum, fiction writers Angela Flournoy and Toni Jensen, memoirist Beth Kephart, young adult fantasy author Brenna Yovanoff, mystery writer Will Thomas, and romance author Sherry Thomas. The cost of the conference is $60, but scholarships are also available, especially for students and teachers, which lower the cost to $10.

Magic of Memoir: A Weekend of Craft, Process, and Publishing. October 15-16, 2016, Oakland, CA. Expert panelists • Opportunity to engage with teachers and panelists, and to win one-on-one consultations • Time to write • What makes a successful memoir? • What agents are looking for • Raffle with excellent prizes!

Books with Bite Workshop and Retreat: Writing Horror and Haunted Novels. October 19 - 23, 2016, Honesdale, Pennsylvania. "If you’re writing a young adult or middle-grade novel that touches on any frightening or chilling subject matter, either realistic or fantastical, we can help you shape it into something un-put-down-able." In this unique four-day workshop, you will have your work critiqued, produce new pages, and come away with solid direction for your novel. Application Deadline: July 31, 2016.

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

These 17 agents are seeking YA fantasy right now. All are from established literary agencies with solid track records. As always, make sure to read the agency website before submitting your query to see if your book would be a good fit.

Note: You can find a list of dozens of new and established agents seeking clients here: Agents Seeking Clients

IMPORTANT: You should NEVER query an
agent without checking the agency website first. Submission
requirements change, and agents may close their lists, or switch
agencies.

Tamar Rydzinski worked at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates prior to joining the Laura Dail Literary Agency. She graduated from Yeshiva University in 2003 with a major in literature and a minor in business.

How to Submit: Send queries to queries [@] ldlainc.com. Put your book’s title and the name of the agent you are querying in the subject—QUERY: TITLE for AGENT. Paste the first 5-10 pages of your manuscript into the body of the email.

Kaylee received a B.A. in English Literature and a B.A. in Sociology from Miami University, and she is certified in Copyediting from Emerson College. Recognized for her obsessive-compulsive attention to detail and crazy-fast reading ability, Kaylee joined the Dee Mura team as a professional copyeditor, proofreader, and administrative assistant before being named an agent.

What she is seeking: She seeks particularly epic, contemporary, near-future, and diverse. She has a special interest in locked-room mysteries, psychological, multiple POVs, lesser-explored settings, and unusual retellings.

How to Submit: Send queries to query [@] deemuraliterary.com. Put your name and the project title in the subject. Include a synopsis and the first 25 pages of your ms in the body of the email.

Several years in the editorial department at Random House’s Colorado division provided Renee with the opportunity to work with bestselling and debut authors alike. After leaving Random House, she came to KT Literary in early 2013. She loves digging into manuscripts and helping the author shape the best story possible.

What she is seeking: “I love non-traditional family structures (thinking specifically LGBTQIA+ here), and I’m always fascinated by deeply religious families. I’d like to find a YA fantasy/sci-fi with a transgender main character.”

How to Submit: Please submit a query letter with the first three pages of your manuscript pasted in the email to queries [@] ktliterary.com.When querying Renee, do not query Hannah Fergeson, also on this list.

Before joining DeFiore and Co., Rebecca was at McIntosh and Otis for seven years where she was an agent and Director of Subsidiary Rights. Prior to M&O, she was a foreign rights associate at Trident Media Group, and a book scout and development assistant at Sony Pictures. She’s originally from Chapel Hill, North Carolina and earned her degree in English Literature from Duke University.

What she is seeking: Fantasy only; no sci-fi.

How to Submit: Please email her at Rebecca [@] defliterary.com with a brief query letter containing information on your book, your bio and the first five pages in the body of the email. Please include the word “Query” and your book title in the subject line.

Victoria A. Selvaggio joined The Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency as a prior Regional Advisor for SCBWI: Northern Ohio, with over 9 years of actively working on the executive board. Drawn to the publishing scene first as an author, with her most recent publication in the 2015 Children’s Writer’s and Illustrator’s Market, Vicki’s passion for honing the craft carried over into reading manuscripts for the agency. Currently, she is excited to read compelling manuscripts that will resonate with her long after she’s done.

How to Submit: Please email a query to vselvaggio [@] windstream.net and put “Query” in the subject line of your email.

Send the first twenty pages in the body of your email, along with a one-paragraph bio and a one-paragraph synopsis.

DongWon Song was formerly an editor at Orbit, an imprint of the Hachette Book Group. He was the first hire at a publishing startup, Zola Books, and while there oversaw content and eventually became the head of product for the ecommerce and ebook apps. He is a graduate of Duke University and joined HMLA in 2015.
What he is seeking: Seeks both YA sci-fi and YA fantasy; he’d specifically like to find a YA adventure fantasy (similar to Tamora Pierce or Robin McKinley).

How to Submit: E-query along with three sample chapters to dongwon [at] morhaimliterary.com.

Carrie Pestritto joined Prospect Agency in 2011 after working as an assistant at Writers House. With a B.A. in English from Amherst College, she has experienced all sides of the publishing industry, having worked as a ghostwriter, freelance writer, and as an intern in the editorial acquisitions department of the Greenwood Publishing Group. As an agent, she loves the thrill of finding new authors with strong, unique voices and working closely with her clients to develop their ideas and manuscripts.

What she is seeking: Seeks high concept fantasy only; does not seek sci-fi or other.

Representing an author or artist, whether aspiring or established, is an honor and a commitment I take very seriously. I am passionate about children’s and young adult books. I am passionate about negotiating the best deal possible. I am passionate about working together with our experienced and esteemed subsidiary rights and contracts teams to squeeze as much juice out of a single property as it will yield. I find it incredibly rewarding to work with new voices (and I’m thrilled to say that I’ve discovered several irresistible projects by debut authors and artists in the submissions pile). I’m also committed to helping established authors and artists continue to grow their careers. I am an “editorial” agent, in that I’ll work through as many drafts over the course of as many years as it takes to polish a manuscript I believe in to a high shine prior to submission. My goal is to build long-term relationships with authors and artists and to help them publish books that will stand the test of time.

How to Submit: Please send along your query letter and first ten pages of your manuscript in the body of the email to emily[@] foliolitmanagement.com.

Put the word QUERY in the subject line. If you haven’t heard from Emily in six weeks, then she is not the agent for your project.

Christa Heschke graduated from Binghamton University with a major in English and a minor in Anthropology. She started in publishing as an intern at both Writers House and Sterling Lord Literistic, where she fell in love with the agency side of publishing. Christa has been at McIntosh and Otis, Inc. in the Children's Literature Department since 2009.

What she is seeking: “For fantasy, I’d like to see unique takes or twists that make them stand out from what’s already on the shelf. I’m a sucker for folklore, especially non-western. I love re-tellings of all types — folktales, classic stories, etc., but again they have to be standout. I’m not looking for something that’s been done many times before. No urban fantasy please.”

How to Submit: Send queries to CHquery [@] mcintoshandotis.com. Please send a query letter, synopsis and the first three consecutive chapters (not to exceed 25 pages) of the manuscript.

Before settling in New York City, Hannah worked and went to school in Denver, where she obtained her degree in Writing for Film and Television. Opportunities in New York presented themselves before she could run off to LA, and she course corrected her career toward publishing, a dream of hers since childhood. After stints as a remote intern for a well-known agent, a bookseller at the famous Books of Wonder, an intern at Soho Press, a literary assistant at Trident Media Group, and a freelance editor working with well-known authors, Hannah joined KT Literary in 2016.

How to Submit: Send queries to hannahquery [@] ktliterary.com. The subject line of your email should include the word “Query” along with the title of your manuscript. Queries should not contain attachments.

The synopsis should include the full plot of the book including the conclusion. If querying Hannah, do not query Renee Nyen, also on this list.

Ginger Clark has been a literary agent with Curtis Brown LTD (New York) since 2005. On the adult side of her list she represents science fiction, fantasy and horror. On the children’s side she represents middle grade and young adult fiction and non-fiction. In addition to representing her own clients, she also handles British Commonwealth rights for the agency’s children’s list. She attends the Bologna Book Fair every year on behalf of her agency, and visits London annually as well. Previously, she worked at Writers House for six years as an assistant literary agent. Her first job in publishing was as an editorial assistant at Tor Books. She is the Chair of the Contracts Committee of the Association of Authors’ Representatives, and a member of its International Committee. She is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College and lives in Brooklyn with her husband.

How to Submit: Send query letter and contact information to gc [@] cbltd.com.

Peter is a literary agent at Park Literary & Media. Fueled by the thrill of reading a new story for the first time, he works creatively with clients and the PLM team on marketing, branding initiatives and promotions to get great books into the hands of readers. Before joining PLM, he was a story editor at a book-scouting agency working with film clients, and he continues to look for new ways to partner with Hollywood on adaptations and multimedia properties.

How to Submit: Send queries to queries [@] parkliterary.com. In the subject line, write “Query for Peter: [genre] by [author name].”

No attachments. Include the first three chapters pasted below the query in the email body text.

After working her way through college as a bookseller and earning a BS in Criminal Justice (with minors in English and Anthropology), Becky was accepted into the Denver Publishing Institute, one of a handful of graduate-level programs offering a crash course in publishing. It was there that she met Sandra Bond of Bond Literary Agency. After working for two years as managing editor for a cookbook imprint and another five as a commissioning editor for a local interest and regional history publisher, Becky reconnected with Sandra and has been working with her ever since.

How to Submit: Please send a query letter via email to: queries [@] bondliteraryagency.com. Address Becky by name in the query salutation.

After a life long obsession with books, a career in business management/ownership including bookstores and community writing centers, and a few years with small presses in an editorial capacity, Michelle Johnson is now in her fourth year as a literary agent, where she represents many NYT Bestsellers, debut authors, and indie authors alike.

What she is seeking: “Diverse books welcome.”

How to Submit: Send queries to query [@] inklingsliterary.com. Type “Query (Agent Name)” and the title of your novel in the subject line. Include a synopsis and the first 10 pages of your manuscript. No attachments.

How to Submit: To submit, send your query letter, 1-2 page synopsis, and first 10-15 pages in the body of your email to queries [@] azantianlitagency.com. Messages sent with attachments will not be opened. Please indicate if this an exclusive submission.

Lindsay has been writing stories since she could first hold a pencil. It wasn’t until she sat down to edit a manuscript for the first time she realized her true love was not on the writing side of the publishing industry, but the business side. She began interning for Mandy at Emerald City Literary Agency in early 2015 and quickly realized agenting was what she wanted to do forever more. Lindsay is a self-proclaimed nerd, loving everything science fiction and fantasy – from epic tomes to gaming. She fell head over heels with the SFF genre when she read Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey (she even has Phedre’s marque tattooed on her back). Find her on Twitter: @lindsaymealing.

Please paste the first five pages of your manuscript below your query – attachments will not be opened. I respond to all queries, so if you have not heard back from me within three weeks, please follow up.

Thursday, September 15, 2016

Here are two new literary agents seeking clients. Annie Hwang (Folio Literary Management) is interested in all categories of literary and upmarket fiction. Jess Dallow (Brower Literary) is looking for YA and adult, with a keen interest in contemporary, thriller, romance, and women’s fiction.

Note: You can find a list of dozens of new and established agents seeking clients here: Agents Seeking Clients

IMPORTANT: You should NEVER query an
agent without checking the agency website first. Submission
requirements change, and agents may close their lists, or switch
agencies.

Originally from Los Angeles, Annie first worked in journalism before moving to New York to pursue her love of book publishing. Since joining Folio Literary Management she has had the pleasure of working with both debut and seasoned authors alike.

What she is seeking: She specializes in all categories of literary and upmarket fiction. She’s especially drawn to historical novels and psychological thrillers. In addition, she loves working with debut authors who have a gift for storytelling and are able immerse her deep within a well-built world in the space of a few sentences. Braided narratives, layered plots, and characters with deep emotional resonance all occupy a strong place in her heart . Annie is also open to nonfiction in the categories of pop science, diet/health/fitness, food, lifestyle, humor, pop culture, and select narrative nonfiction.

How to submit: Please submit queries to annie [at] foliolit.com. Please include the query letter and first ten pages of your manuscript or proposal in the body of the email. “Please be sure to write QUERY in the subject line as this will ensure I do not miss your letter.

Jess has always had a love for books, especially those that feature well developed, strong female characters. She is fascinated with complex characters and a world that she can fall in love with, stories that make her want to sob and laugh within minutes of each other, and a book that she can’t put down no matter what time it is or what rerun of SVU is on. Jess is interested in both YA and adult literary and commercial fiction with a focus in romance, thrillers, and women’s fiction. She has a BFA in Writing for Film and Television from the University of the Arts and worked in entertainment for eight years before returning to her home state of NY where she worked at a literary agency for two years before joining Rebecca Friedman Literary Agency.

What she is seeking: Jess specializes in YA and adult, with a keen interest in contemporary, thriller, romance, and women’s fiction.

How to submit: Queries for Jess Dallow should include a query letter, synopsis, and your first chapter (pasted into the email, not to exceed fifteen double-spaced pages) and should be sent to jess@browerliterary.com.

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Here are fifteen agents currently seeking adult fantasy. All are from established agencies with solid track records.

If you have any doubts about whether your query letter is gripping enough, check out Query Shark. Agent Janet Reid has generously provided critiques of queries on her site. This is a fabulous resource!

Danielle began working at Nelson Agency in early 2017. Before finding her home at Nelcon Agency, she worked at HSG. She interned at Writer’s House; Clarion Books; Faye Bender Literary Agency; Dunow, Carlson & Lerner; and SquareOne Publishers. She also did some freelance copy editing for John Wiley & Sons. She graduated from Hamilton College with an honors degree in women’s studies and creative writing.

What she is looking for: Young adult. She gravitates toward stories with strong voices and particularly enjoys complex female characters, coming-of-age stories … [and] fantasy that takes her to an unfamiliar world.

How to submit: E-query querydanielle@nelsonagency.com. Please send a query letter and the first ten pages of your manuscript (within the email–no attachments please!). Typically responds within 8 weeks.

Mark’s first position at Trident was in the foreign rights department, assisting the department’s agents in selling the books of clients around the world. Mark next became audio rights agent. Since Mark has managed the audio rights business, the annual sales volume has doubled. Now while continuing to head up audio rights, Mark is building his own client list of writers. "I am excited to work directly with authors that I bring to Trident, helping to manage and grow their careers with all of the unique resources that are available to me at Trident."

Mary C. Moore has been with Kimberley Cameron since 2012. Mary specializes in science fiction and fantasy, although she does appreciate a wide breadth of the literary cannon.

What she is looking for: “In adult fantasy, I’m seeking epic (with a capital E) with matriarchs instead of patriarchs, historical based on non-English medieval cultures, high, low, silkpunk, mythic, fairytales, romantic, weird, female heroic, and dark fantasy. I am NOT seeking paranormal or urban fantasy currently due to the over-saturation in the market. In this genre I prefer third person POV with a focus on atmosphere and world-building.”

How to submit: “Please use my submission form found on both my personal site and the Kimberley Cameron & Associates site."

Valerie Noble is an Associate Agent at Donaghy Literary Group. While studying chemistry at California State University, Long Beach, Valerie mastered the art of doing proper research, particularly for technical writing. Her love of science and reading merged when she began penning her first novel in the midst of her studies. In true scientific fashion, Valerie researched all there was to know about publishing. She connected with agents, editors, and other writers, and interned for Jessica Sinsheimer of Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency.

Lisa grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and graduated from California State University, Sacramento, in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in English Literature and a minor in German literature-in-translation, history, and culture (sadly, she doesn’t speak German, although it’s on her bucket list). She moved to New York City in 2012 to attend NYU’s Summer Publishing Institute and joined the JABberwocky team a few months later. She’s previously worked at San Francisco Book Review and Barnes & Noble, interned at Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency, and was a submissions reader for Lightspeed Magazine. She is a member of Romance Writers of America.

What she is looking for: “I’m particularly drawn to characters whose struggles include not just “the quest”, but also choices that challenge their beliefs or values. I love both high- and low-magic fantasies; cohesive worldbuilding is the more important ingredient. While I tend to prefer epic, contemporary, or dark fantasies, I also enjoy trying new things.”

How to submit: “A brief one- to three-page synopsis can be included with your query letter, but is in no way required. With an e-mail query, this synopsis must be pasted below your query letter; e-mail queries with attachments will be deleted, unread.”

Lauren Spieller is an author and literary agent living in Brooklyn. Before joining Triada US, she worked in literary scouting, and as an editorial consultant. She is the author of THE WANDERINGS OF DESSA ROSE (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2018).

What she is looking for: “I like immersive fantasies, such as The Night Circus, The Miniaturist, The Rook, and A Darker Shade of Magic.”

How to submit: Please send a concise summary of your work, along with the first ten pages in the body of an e-mail to lauren [at] triadaus.com.

Maximilian Ximenez grew up within the New York publishing industry. Prior to joining the L. Perkins Agency, he worked at Blizzard Entertainment, creators of the popular Warcraft, StarCraft, and Diablo video game franchises. He is a strong believer in publishing and narrative as a central pillar of franchise and transmedia development.

What he is looking for: “I’m looking for books that either critique or avoid the standard Medieval fantasy milieu.”

How to Submit: Send query letter to submissions [@] lperkinsagency.com. Include the first five pages of your novel with your query letter. No attachments.

Connor began his career in publishing in 2012 at Lowenstein Associates, where he was promoted to Associate Agent in March 2013. He joined Fuse in early 2014 and was promoted to Agent in November 2015. Prior to transitioning into the world of books, he spent a year as a full-time intern and relief assistant in the commercial film and television department at Abrams Artists Agency.

How to Submit: Send your query letter, a 1-2 page full plot synopsis, and the first ten pages of your manuscript to queryconnor [@] fuseliterary.com.

Please paste all content into the body of the email; attachments will not be opened.

Ginger Clark has been a literary agent with Curtis Brown LTD (New York) since 2005. On the adult side of her list she represents science fiction, fantasy and horror. On the children’s side she represents middle grade and young adult fiction and non-fiction. In addition to representing her own clients, she also handles British Commonwealth rights for the agency’s children’s list. She attends the Bologna Book Fair every year on behalf of her agency, and visits London annually as well. Previously, she worked at Writers House for six years as an assistant literary agent. Her first job in publishing was as an editorial assistant at Tor Books. She is the Chair of the Contracts Committee of the Association of Authors’ Representatives, and a member of its International Committee. She is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College and lives in Brooklyn with her husband.

How to Submit: Send query letter and contact information to gc [@] cbltd.com.

After a life long obsession with books, a career in business management/ownership including bookstores and community writing centers, and a few years with small presses in an editorial capacity, Michelle Johnson is now in her fourth year as a literary agent, where she represents many NYT Bestsellers, debut authors, and indie authors alike.

What she is looking for: “Diverse books welcome.”

How to Submit: Send queries to query [@] inklingsliterary.com. Type “Query for Michelle” and the title of your novel in the e-mail subject line. Include a synopsis and the first 10 pages of your manuscript. No attachments.

How to Submit: To submit, send your query letter, 1-2 page synopsis, and first 10-15 pages in the body of your email to queries [@] azantianlitagency.com. Messages sent with attachments will not be opened. Please indicate if this an exclusive submission.

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Lindsay Mealing (Emerald City Literary) Lindsay has been writing stories since she could first hold a pencil. It wasn’t until she sat down to edit a manuscript for the first time she realized her true love was not on the writing side of the publishing industry, but the business side. She began interning for Mandy at Emerald City Literary Agency in early 2015 and quickly realized agenting was what she wanted to do forever more. Lindsay is a self-proclaimed nerd, loving everything science fiction and fantasy – from epic tomes to gaming. She fell head over heels with the SFF genre when she read Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey (she even has Phedre’s marque tattooed on her back). Find her on Twitter: @lindsaymealing.

Please paste the first five pages of your manuscript below your query – attachments will not be opened. I respond to all queries, so if you have not heard back from me within three weeks, please follow up.

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Kaylee Davis (Dee Mura Literary)Kaylee received a B.A. in English Literature and a B.A. in Sociology from Miami University, and she is certified in Copyediting from Emerson College. Recognized for her obsessive-compulsive attention to detail and crazy-fast reading ability, Kaylee joined the Dee Mura team as a professional copyeditor, proofreader, and administrative assistant before being named an agent.

What she is looking for: She seeks particularly epic, contemporary, near-future, and diverse. She has a special interest in locked-room mysteries, psychological, multiple POVs, lesser-explored settings, and unusual retellings.

How to Submit: Send queries to query [@] deemuraliterary.com. Put your name and the project title in the subject. Include a synopsis and the first 25 pages of your ms in the body of the email.

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Rebecca Strauss (DeFiore and Company)Before joining DeFiore and Co., Rebecca was at McIntosh and Otis for seven years where she was an agent and Director of Subsidiary Rights. Prior to M&O, she was a foreign rights associate at Trident Media Group, and a book scout and development assistant at Sony Pictures. She’s originally from Chapel Hill, North Carolina and earned her degree in English Literature from Duke University.

How to Submit: Please email her at Rebecca [@] defliterary.com with a brief query letter containing information on your book, your bio and the first five pages in the body of the email.

Please include the word “Query” and your book title in the subject line.

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Victoria Selvaggio (Jennifer De Chiara Literary)Victoria A. Selvaggio joined The Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency as a prior Regional Advisor for SCBWI: Northern Ohio, with over 9 years of actively working on the executive board. Drawn to the publishing scene first as an author, with her most recent publication in the 2015 Children’s Writer’s and Illustrator’s Market, Vicki’s passion for honing the craft carried over into reading manuscripts for the agency. Currently, she is excited to read compelling manuscripts that will resonate with her long after she’s done.

How to Submit: Please email a query to vselvaggio [@] windstream.net and put “Query” in the subject line of your email.

Send the first twenty pages in the body of your email, along with a one-paragraph bio and a one-paragraph summary (pitch).

Thursday, September 8, 2016

These six agents are looking for steampunk manuscripts. In case you are wondering, steampunk is a subgenre of speculative fiction that incorporates features of 19th-century steam engine technology (hence the steam). The punk aspect of steampunk has now been thoroughly incorporated into the world of fashion - goggles, helmets - proving, once again, that anything can be commercialized.

Note: You can find a list of dozens of new and established agents seeking clients here: Agents Seeking Clients

IMPORTANT: You should NEVER query an
agent without checking the agency website first. Submission
requirements change, and agents may close their lists, or switch
agencies.

Lydia Moëd came to Canada from the UK, where she worked for several years as a foreign rights executive in children’s publishing. She has also worked as a freelance literary translator and editor, and as a bookseller at Foyles in London. In addition to handling foreign rights for The Rights Factory’s children’s and YA list, she is building her own list of clients for representation.

What she is looking for: “I’m open to adult and YA submissions. I like my steampunk heavy on the punk, and I’m mostly looking for steampunk set in places other than Britain or a Britain-analogue.”

Cate Hart is a Junior Agent at Corvisiero Literary Agency, where she started as an intern working closely with Marisa Corvisiero and Saritza Hernandez. A Tennessee native, Cate earned her B.F.A. from the University of Tennessee. Before joining Corvisiero Literary Agency, Cate worked in financial management.

What she is looking for: “Currently I am interested in finding adult steampunk, but I am open to YA and MG as well. I am always open to diverse characters from diverse authors and welcome more unique settings outside of Victorian London.”

How to Submit: Attach your 1-2 page synopsis and the first five pages of your manuscript as a separate Word doc. Send queries to cate [@] corvisieroagency.com.

Shira began her career in publishing as an intern at Tor Books and has been with M&O since 2007. In 2013, she took over as Director of Subsidiary Rights. She also Tweets @ShiraSHoffman.

What she is looking for: “I’m only looking for adult steampunk and maybe an occasional YA. No MG.”

How to Submit: Send queries SHquery [@] mcintoshandotis.com. Please send a query letter, synopsis, author bio, and the first three consecutive chapters (no more than 30 pages) of your novel. No attachments.

Note: Shira's bio no longer appears on the agency website, but she is still listed at the bottom. Her twitter account gives MacIntosh & Otis as her agency. My advice is to query and see what happens.

Jen Hunt graduated from the University of Reno, Nevada with an English Literature degree and an unholy fascination with Victorian literature, although contrary to popular belief, she doesn't wear a corset. She does drink way too much coffee and enjoys watching the BBC. Another remake of a Jane Austen classic? Game on! Also happens to be a huge Bioware fangirl - when she has enough time for gaming

What she is looking for: Picture books, YA, and adult steampunk.

How to Submit: Send your queries to query [@] thebookeralbertagency.com. Include the first 10 pages of your manuscript copy/pasted into the body of an email (no attachments, unless requested). In the subject line: please be sure to include “Query for Jen: [Title].” Also include genre and word count and your name and contact information. If you have publishing credits, please give us relevant information: name of the book/anthology/story, publisher, publication date, sales info.

Sara Megibow is a literary agent with nine years of experience in publishing. Sara specializes in working with authors in middle grade, young adult, romance, erotica, science fiction and fantasy and represents New York Times bestselling authors Roni Loren and Jason Hough and international bestselling authors Stefan Bachmann and Tiffany Reisz. Sara is LGBTQ-friendly and presents regularly at SCBWI and RWA events around the country.

What she is looking for: Middle grade, young adult, romance, science fiction and fantasy. The novel can be epic, urban, historical, paranormal, contemporary, etc—steampunk in any sub-genre is welcome. “I’m looking for queries for novels that are 100% complete and never previously published. As an example of steampunk that I love, I represent Stefan Bachmann whose THE PECULIAR is an internationally bestselling steampunk fantasy for middle grade.”

How to Submit: Send a query letter (2-3 paragraph description of the book that reads like the back cover of a novel) plus the first 3 pages of their book (in the body of the email) to saraquery [@] ktliterary.com.

Serving as a Literary Assistant for two years at the Seymour Agency, Lane Heymont led the marketing efforts for their authors and enjoyed connecting clients with readers. As a lover of literature since childhood, he decided to pursue his passion as a literary agent to bring more well written books to the masses.

How to submit: To query, type “Query - The Title of your Manuscript - Genre - Word Count” in the subject line, then please paste the first five pages of your manuscript into the body of the e-mail to query(at)thetobiasagency.com